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Setting up a business involves complying with a range of legal requirements. Find out which ones apply to you and your new enterprise.
What particular regulations do specific types of business (such as a hotel, or a printer, or a taxi firm) need to follow? We explain some of the key legal issues to consider for 200 types of business.
While poor governance can bring serious legal consequences, the law can also protect business owners and managers and help to prevent conflict.
Whether you want to raise finance, join forces with someone else, buy or sell a business, it pays to be aware of the legal implications.
From pay, hours and time off to discipline, grievance and hiring and firing employees, find out about your legal responsibilities as an employer.
Marketing matters. Marketing drives sales for businesses of all sizes by ensuring that customers think of their brand when they want to buy.
Commercial disputes can prove time-consuming, stressful and expensive, but having robust legal agreements can help to prevent them from occurring.
Whether your business owns or rents premises, your legal liabilities can be substantial. Commercial property law is complex, but you can avoid common pitfalls.
With information and sound advice, living up to your legal responsibilities to safeguard your employees, customers and visitors need not be difficult or costly.
As information technology continues to evolve, legislation must also change. It affects everything from data protection and online selling to internet policies for employees.
Intellectual property (IP) isn't solely relevant to larger businesses or those involved in developing innovative new products: all products have IP.
Knowing how and when you plan to sell or relinquish control of your business can help you to make better decisions and achieve the best possible outcome.
From bereavement, wills, inheritance, separation and divorce to selling a house, personal injury and traffic offences, learn more about your personal legal rights.
Contractual and commercial disputes can be costly, time consuming and stressful. Minor disputes can escalate, damaging relationships or even threatening the survival of your business. Clear, written contracts with customers and suppliers minimise the risk of disputes. Similarly, having clear agreements in place with employees, shareholders or partners can anticipate potential conflicts and prevent them before they arise.
Understanding how contracts and contract law works, knowing how to prepare terms and conditions and what to do if you end up in a dispute, can help you avoid legal difficulties when you are negotiating a business contract.
While a pragmatic and positive approach can go a long way to avoiding unnecessary disputes, you need to recognise that disputes are inevitable. There will be times when unacceptable mistakes are made or when you need to fight for the right deal rather than accept an unfair outcome.
Aim to negotiate a constructive resolution to any dispute, rather than to punish or triumph over the other side. Key objectives might include maintaining a working relationship and minimising costs and disruption, as well as seeking a financial settlement or agreement. Take into account practical negotiating issues, such as the strength of your argument and what the other side is hoping to achieve.
If firm but fair negotiation does not succeed, alternative forms of dispute resolution include mediation or arbitration. Well-planned agreements will include dispute-resolution clauses, setting out how any dispute will be dealt with in the event of a disagreement. For example, a lease might specify that rent reviews are subject to arbitration by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Litigation in court should be a last resort.
A long-term relationship with a firm of solicitors can underpin your approach to avoiding disputes. For example, your solicitor can advise you on drafting standard terms and conditions and ensuring that they apply to any sales, setting up employment procedures and so on. Preventative measures like these can be a highly cost-effective use of legal expertise.
A long-term relationship may also be a cost-effective approach to recurring disputes, such as debt recovery issues – a frequent source of disputes between businesses.
Specialist advice may be needed for particular types of dispute: for example, if you want to take action against a professional adviser for negligence.
Bear in mind that legal disputes can be expensive, particularly if they reach court. You may want to consider legal insurance to cover your legal expenses as part of your strategic approach to managing disputes.